Home Office

Refugees: Temporary Accommodation

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of a scheme allowing refugees to temporarily stay with members of the public while awaiting permanent dispersal.

Kevin Foster: For those claiming asylum in the UK, we support and house those would otherwise be destitute whilst they await a decision on their claim. We have no plans to house those who require our accommodation in this way with members of the public. Where someone is then subsequently granted refugee status, whilst in the United Kingdom, we would provide advice to them on onward accommodation and Local Authorities would provide housing advice and support. For those who are granted refugee status abroad and then resettled in the UK, our Community Sponsorship Scheme enables civil society - including friends, charities and faith groups - to directly support families through both our UK Resettlement Scheme and now the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme. Those brought to the UK under Community Sponsorship must have accommodation arranged in advance.

Radicalism: Qatar

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what security assessment she has made of the implications of the State of Qatar potentially sponsoring extremist Islamist organisations and its acquisition of UK cultural landmarks.

Stephen McPartland: We are committed to working with Qatar across a range of areas, including investment, sport, culture and education. As in all our international engagement, we ensure our relationships are calibrated to protect our national security. We do not routinely comment on security assessments.